The budget proposed by Democrats has come under fire from State Rep. Jaime Greene, the Republican vice chair of the House Education Committee. Greene strongly opposes the significant cuts to mental health and school safety grants, which she believes will put students’ safety at risk.
Greene emphasized the importance of school safety and expressed concern that slashing funding for these programs would leave schools ill-prepared to address potential threats. She argued that instead of cutting funding, there should be more investment in school resource officers to ensure the safety of students.
The Democrats’ budget reduces funding for mental health and school safety grants by over $300 million, leaving just $26.5 million for schools to use on essential resources like school resource officers and mental health services. Greene questioned the rationale behind these cuts and expressed concern that they could have a negative impact on student well-being.
In addition to the cuts, Democrats also eliminated funding for the School Safety and Mental Health Commission, established after the tragic shooting at Oxford High School. This commission was designed to identify and promote best practices for schools to address behavioral, physical, and mental health needs. Greene emphasized that eliminating this commission represents a setback in efforts to protect students and implement effective safety measures in schools.
Despite opposition from Greene and other Republicans, the state budget for the upcoming fiscal year was approved by the House in two party-line votes during the early morning hours. However, Greene’s commitment to prioritizing student safety remains strong, as she continues to advocate for more investment in school resource officers and other critical grant programs that support mental health services and school safety measures.
